Luggage coupler

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a luggage coupler comprised of a trapezoid-shaped main body piece with two adjustable connecting straps attached to a narrow end of the body where the body is intended to be inserted through and engage the handle of a secondary piece of luggage and the connecting straps are intended to attach to a primary piece of luggage which is pulled by the user. Multiple pieces of wheeled luggage can thus be coupled together in a train arrangement using multiple couplers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new type of luggage coupler for usewith various types of luggage and personal items. The coupler utilizes aunique shape to quickly attach to the handle of a primary piece ofluggage while using additional means to attach a secondary piece ofluggage.

2. Description of the Related Art

During travel and other related activities, people are often required tocarry luggage for themselves and family members. Luggage couplers, amongother functions not related to this invention, connect these luggageitems in such a manner as to make them easier for a user to convey.

Some larger luggage items come with attachments for smaller items. Theseattachments are often designed for brand specific use with itemsproduced by the same luggage company. Even those designed for universaladaptation are primarily intended for items smaller than the primarypiece of luggage. Arrangements created by such couplers often rely onthe wheels of the primary piece of luggage to carry the weight of allattached luggage. This can result in wheel failure due to excessive loadon the wheels. Even a recommended weight limit of 50 lbs. per bag canresult in over 100 lbs. being supported by only two luggage wheels.Attempts to avoid over stressing the wheels by pulling a piece ofwheeled luggage with each hand, can be uncomfortable for the user andmakes negotiating obstacles like doors difficult due to the wide berthof the user and items.

Attachments securing luggage couplers to the primary luggage item alsohave some limitations. Many have permanent or semi-permanent attachmentsto the primary luggage item which can snag against foreign objects whennot in use, and some require both hands to attach and detach,respectively. For example, some of the couplers currently in use attachto the primary luggage with the use of a latching mechanism requiringthe use of both hands to align the male and female portions of the latchduring attachment. Such latches also tend to wear over time as theyinvolve moving parts attaching and reattaching under substantial amountsof stress due to the weight of the attached luggage. Some couplers workby attaching to one piece of luggage and providing solid hook-shapedpiece for hanging a second piece of luggage. These hooks, as mentionedabove may snag on foreign objects, particularly when nothing is attachedto them. Most couplers are also not designed to work with a similarcoupler to attach a third piece of luggage to the pair of luggage itemsthat are already coupled.

At the more distant end of related art, airports often provide coinoperated cart dispensers which permit a user to load multiple bags.Access to these carts is limited to air travelers while at an airportdue to their size and the need to stow them prior to travel.

The present invention seeks to address fundamental problems with currentcouplers and related art. First, unlike some other couplers, theinvention is designed to permit the wheels of a secondary piece ofluggage to make contact with the ground, easing the load on the wheelsof the primary piece of luggage.

Second, the invention is not brand-specific and is designed to work withany combination of luggage items that possess two handles and is,therefore, not limited by any proprietary connection configuration.

Third, the invention attaches to and detaches from the luggage in amanner so as to permit a user to use only one hand, which in addition toeasing use, reduces the likelihood that the coupler remains attachedwhen there is no connected luggage posing an entanglement risk.

Fourth, the preferred embodiment of this invention is a product thatpermits “piggy backing” of several pieces of luggage into a “train” ofluggage items by using several luggage couplers. Most, if not all,luggage couplers are not designed to attach a third piece of luggage toa two coupled pieces using a similar device.

Finally, the invention is a compact consumer product and, unlike a cartrental, easily storable in luggage or at home.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a luggage coupler comprised of a main body thatis a trapezoid-shaped solid piece with two adjustable connecting strapsattached to the narrow end of the main body.

The trapezoid-shaped solid piece is symmetrically contoured along thesides with detents or shoulders designed to make contact in two placeswith the opposite sides of the primary luggage handle. At the portion ofthe sides nearest the base of the trapezoid there are providedsymmetrically contoured hook-shaped appendages to attach luggage handlesthat may be wider in diameter than the base of the solid shape. Thesolid piece contains two slits at the narrowest end or top for attachingthe connecting straps. Other various holes may be included to give thesolid piece flexibility, reduce weight and material costs, and for easein gripping the device.

The adjustable connecting straps are inserted into the slits in thesolid piece and attached to themselves by first connecting means, suchas buckles. The opposite ends of the connecting straps are connected bysecond connecting means to the handle of the luggage item intended to beattached to the primary luggage item. The second connecting means arepreferably easily connected and disconnected, such as for example thebayonet fasteners illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective partially cutaway view of the luggage coupler.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the luggage coupler of FIG. 1 shown inuse connecting a primary luggage item which is shown on the right sideof the drawing to a secondary luggage item which is shown on the leftside of the drawing.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the handle of the secondary luggage itemwith the invention inserted.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the insertion of the solid piece or mainbody of the invention into the handle of the secondary luggage item ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the two connecting straps attached to thehandle of the primary luggage item.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, there isillustrated a coupler 10 that is constructed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention. Also referring to 2, 3, 4and 5, the luggage coupler 10 is shown attached to a handle 50 of asecondary piece 20 of luggage and to a handle 30 of a primary piece ofluggage 40. The coupler 10 is comprised of a trapezoid-shaped solidpiece or main body 60, and two connecting straps 70. The solid piece 60is connectible to the handle 30 of the secondary piece of luggage 20, asillustrated in FIG. 4. The connecting straps 70 are connectible to thehandle 50 of the primary piece of luggage 40, as illustrated in FIG. 5.After the secondary piece of luggage 20 and the primary piece of luggage40 are connected, as illustrated in FIG. 2, both pieces of luggage 20and 40 can be manipulated as one by grasping the handle 50 of theprimary luggage 40.

The main features of the present invention are outlined herein.Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the trapezoid-shaped main body solidpiece 60 is comprised of a solid material capable of bearing thenecessary load while maintaining its shape, including but not limited toplastic, metal or wood. At its narrow end, or top 80, the main bodysolid piece 60 has two holes or slits 90 for inserting the connectingstraps 70. The solid piece 60 may contain other holes 100 for thepurpose of reduction in weight, reduction in production cost, or ease ofmanual manipulation.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the connecting straps 70 areconstructed of a strip of flexible material with the strength to bearthe necessary load. In the middle of the straps are attached the maleportion of a bayonet latch connector 110. At the end of the straps, onthe side intended for connecting to the primary piece of luggage 40, isa female latch connector 120 attached by adjustable buckles 130.

The coupler 10 is designed to permit “piggy-backing” which permitsmultiple pieces of luggage 20, 40, etc. to be connected by using morethan one coupler 10. Although not illustrated, a third piece of luggage(not illustrated) has the solid piece (not illustrated) inserted intoits handle (not illustrated) and the secondary piece of luggage 20 isattached by means of connecting straps 70 of a second coupler 10. Thelatch configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 permits access tor the straps70 of a second coupler 10. Use of multiple couplers 10 on multiplepieces of luggage 20, 40, etc. which are supported on luggage wheels 140allows a user to couple in “train” fashion the luggage pieces 20, 40,etc.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understoodthat the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth hereinfor the purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by thescope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range ofequivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

1. The present invention seeks to address fundamental problems withcurrent couplers and related art. Unlike some other couplers, theinvention is designed to permit the wheels of a secondary piece ofluggage to make contact with the ground, easing the load on the wheelsof the primary piece of luggage. This invention is not brand-specificand is designed to work with any combination of luggage items thatposses two handles and is, therefore, not limited by any proprietaryconnection configuration. Invention attaches to and detaches from theluggage in a manner so as to permit a user to use only one hand, whichin addition to easing use, reduces the likelihood that a coupler remainsattached when there is no connected luggage posing an entanglement risk.The preferred embodiment of this invention is a product that permits“piggy backing” of several pieces of luggage into a “train” of luggageitems by using several luggage couplers. Most, if not all, luggagecouplers are not designed to attach a third piece of luggage to a twocoupled pieces using a similar device. Finally, the invention is acompact consumer product and, unlike a cart rental, easily storable inluggage or at home.